Bunk and post connecting means



July 14, 193l. u. J. BEEGHLY A. 1,814,541

BUNK AND POST CONNECTING MEANS Filed Jan.V 25,' 1930 2 Sheets-Sheetl .fz il IHN' - Ii @fr I' l mi' 5 y* h I f/ 'I 'n E lli.,

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BUNK ANDPosT CONNEGTING MEANS Filed Jan. 23 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Il., lll Il N Snow/hoz JBeeyly 1 r v igyw Patented .uly 14, 12931I UNITED STTS URNER J'. BEEGHLY, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON BU'NK AND'POST CONNECTING MEANS Application filed January 23, 1930. Serial No. 422,890.

The inventiony r-elates to logging trucks, cars, sleds and the like and aims to provide a new and improved means for releasably connecting the lower ends of the log-holding posts with the ends of the bunks upon which the logs are supported, the construction being such that said post ends may be quickly and easily released without danger to workmen, when the logs are to be unloaded.

Vith the foregoing in view, the inv-ention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference te the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation oi contiguous end portions of a bunk and a post showing the improvedk connecting means between the two.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking in the opposite direction from Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. i is an end elevation as indicated by the arrow i oi Fig. 1.

Fig'. 5 is a transverse sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. (i is a fragmentary side elevation similar to a portion of Fig. 1 but showing the chain -tightener ina partly released position.

` Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the chain tightener.

The preferred construction has been 1llustrated and while such construction will be herein specifically explained, it is to be understood that within the scope oi the invention as claimed, variations may be made.

The numeral 8 denotes a bunk preferably formed of wood, and 9 refers to a post whose inner edge abuts one end ot' said bunk. Two horizontally elongated side plates 10-10, preferably formed of channel iron or steel, are secured by bolts or the like 11 against opposite vertical sides of the bunk 8, and said plates project beyond the end of the bunk to provide parallel vertical flanges 12 which straddle the inner edge portion of the post 9. A bottom plate 13 and a top plate 14 are secured by suitable fasteners 15 against the lower and upper edges respectively of the bunk 8, and said plate 13 projects beyond the bunk end to provide a ledge 16 upon which the post 9 rests. A flat vertical plate 17 lies against the outer edge of the post 9 but is not secured thereto7 said plate having vertical langes 18 and 18 which straddle the post. In Athe present showing, one of the iianges (18) is at an obtuse angle to the plate 17 and this detail as well as the relative widths of the post 9 and the plate 17, prevents said plate from becoming rictionally wedged upon the post. At its outer side, the plate 17 is provided with chain guides 19 through i which two chains 2O pass slidably. At one end, these chains are anchored to the side plate 10, in suitable slots 21 with which the latter is provided. At their other ends, the chains 20 merge into a single chain 22, and a tightener 23 for this chain, is pivoted to the n.

side plate 10. The chain 22 is engaged with 7 the tight-ener 23 when the upper end of the latter is swung toward the end of the bunk 8 to an` extent somewhat greater than that shownin Fig. 6. Then, the tiglitener 23 is swung inthe opposite direction, say to the po- 7 sition shown in Fig. 1, thereby tightening the chain. A locking pin 24 then serves to hold the iightener 23 in operative position, and if desired, a cotte-r. pin or the like 25 may be passed through said locking pin to overcome any possibility of it shitting to a released position by accident.

rThe tightener 23 is composed of a flat substantially triangular plate having a lateral lug 26 on one side, said lug extending to an edge of the plate and being formed with a chain-receivin notch 27. The plate and lug are jointly formed with an opening 28 which receives a pivot bolt or the like 29 by which the tightener 23 is connectl ed with the side plate 10. itt a, point rather remote from the openingv 28, Lplate 23 is formed with a hook-like lug 30 by means of which a pullchain 30 is connected with said plate, pulling of said chain serving to rock the plate about its pivot to eilect chain tightening. Between the lugs 26 and 29, pla-le 23 is formed with a plurality of openings 31, any of which may receive the locking pin 24. This pin passes through alined openings 32 and 32 in the side plates 10 and 10 and through a larger opening 33 in the hunk 8. IVithin this opening 33, is a coiled compression spring 34, one end of which bears against the plate 10 while its other end contacts with an abutment 35 on the pin, the spring therefore serving to project the pin into engagement with one or another of the openings 31. A suitable releasing eye or the like 36 is provided on one end of he pin 24 and if desired, these eyes or' a plurality of bunks may be connected with a common releasing chain or the like to effect simultaneous release of all of the pins. Similarly, all of the pull chains 30 may be connected with a master pull chain if desired. Moreover, it may be explained that while use of the spring 34 is preferred, this spring may be dispensed with if desired.

In applying the improved connecting means, the post 9 is placed upon the ledge 16 between the flanges l2, the plate 17 is engaged with the outer edge of the post, with its flanges 18 and 18 straddling the latter, and with the tightener 23 in a released position, chain 22 is engaged with its notch 27. Then, the tightener 23 is swung to chain-tightening position by pulling upon the chain and when maximum tightening has been effected, the tightener 23 will beheld by the pin 24 and one or another of the openings 31 receiving said pin. The upper ends of the posts at opposite sides of the car, truck or the like, will be connected in the usual or any preferred manner, by chains and they may be tightened in the usual way by placing one or more logs or the like upon them after passage over the load. To release the posts, the pins 24 are withdrawn from engagement with the chain tighteners, whereupon the chains are released and the plates 17 may drop from engagement with the pos s, thereby entirely freeing the lower ends of the latter. If necessary, a crow-bar or the like may be used to rock any plate 23 sufliciently to allow easy withdrawal of the locking pin 24C should it be frictionally held so tightly that it cannot be otherwise released.

The invention is simple and inexpensive, may be manufactured and installed at small cost, yet will be unusually desirable and durable. The posts 9 are not injured in any way duringunloading and may be repeatedly used, instead of providing new posts for each load as is now often done. Moreover, attention may be invited to the fact that the improved connecting means will operate efficiently even though any or all of the posts 9 may be much smaller than the size intended for co-operation with the connecting means, which advantage cannot :fiow from structures including sockets or the like which receive the lower ends of the posts.

While the details disclosed are preferable, attention is again invited to the fact that within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations may be made.

I claim 1. A bunk having a post seat at one end, a chain anchored to one side of said bunk and adapted for passage around the post, a chain-tightening plate pivoted to the other side of said bunk and having a notched lug to receive the tree end of said chain, said plate being provided with means for swinging it to tighten the chain, and a springpressed locking pin transverse to and mounted slidably in said bunk, said plate having openings to receiveV said pin.

2. A; structure as speciiied in claim 1; t0- gether with plates secured to said sides of said bunk, said secured plates and bunk having alined openings through which said locking pin passes, the opening of said bunk being of greater diameter than the openings of said secured plates and receiving the projecting spring or said locking pin.

8. A bunk, two side plates secured against opposite vertical sides of said bunk and projecting beyond one end of said bunk to straddle a post, a bottom plate secured against the lower edge of said bunk and proj ecting beyond said end of the latter to support the post, a vertical plate adapted to lie regain-st the outer edge of said post and having post-straddling flanges, the outer side of said vertical plate being provided with a chain guide, a chain passing loosely through said guide and secured at one of its ends to one of said side plates, a chain tightenerpivoted to the other of said side plates and having a portion Jfor detachable engagement with the free end of said chain, and a springprojected locking pin for said chain tightener, said side plates and bunk having alined openings through which said pin passes, the projecting spring of said pin being disposed within the opening of said bunk and abutting said one side plate.

4. In a device of the class described, a chain tightener comprising a flat plate having a lateral lug integral with one of its sides and extending to one of its edges, the outer end ofA said lug having a chain-receiving notch, said plate lug being formed with a pivot-receiving opening, said plate having an operating member spaced from said pivot-receiving opening and also having a plurality of locking-pin-receiving openings spaced from said pivot-receiving opening.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

URNER J. BEEGHLY. 

